Wireless Coordination of Audio Sources

Abstract

An audio / video (A / V) hub that coordinates playback of audio content is described. In particular, the A / V hub may calculate current time offsets between clocks in electronic devices and a clock in the A / V hub based on differences between transmit times of frames from the electronic devices and receive times when the frames were received. For example, the current time offsets may be calculated using wireless ranging by ignoring distances between the A / V hub and the electronic devices. Then, the A / V hub may transmit, to the electronic devices, one or more frames that include audio content and playback timing information, which may specify playback times when the electronic devices are to playback the audio content based on the current time offsets. Furthermore, the playback times of the electronic devices may have a temporal relationship so that the playback of the audio content by the electronic devices is coordinated.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62 / 433,237, “Wireless Coordination of Audio Sources,” by Gaylord Yu, filed on Dec. 13, 2016, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.[0002]This application is related to: U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. ______, “Schedule-Based Coordination of Audio Sources,” by Gaylord Yu and Steven Stupp, filed on Aug. 15, 2017; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. _____, “Wireless Coordination of Audio Playback,” by Leo Lay, Adrian Chadd, Haisong Wang, Shiwei Zhao and Lee Lee, filed on Aug. 15, 2017; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. ______, “Source Coordination of Audio Playback,” by Leo Lay, Adrian Chadd, Haisong Wang, Shiwei Zhao and Lee Lee, filed on Aug. 15, 2017; U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. ______, “Maintaining Coordination Following a Wireless Reset,” by Leo Lay, Adrian Chadd, Haisong Wang, Shiwe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention relates to a method for playing back audio content using multiple subsets. The A / V hub can determine the volume levels for each subset and set them accordingly. This helps to reduce echoing and other interference between the subsets. Overall, this method improves the overall quality and clarity of the played-back audio content.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is often challenging to achieve high audio quality in an environment.

For example, the acoustic sources (such as loudspeakers) may not be properly placed in the environment.

Alternatively or additionally, a listener may not be located at an ideal position in the environment.

Furthermore, achieving high audio quality in the environment typically places strong constraints on synchronization of the loudspeakers.

Consequently, when one or more of these factors is sub-optimal, the acoustic quality in the environment may be degraded.

In turn, this may adversely impact listener satisfaction and the overall user experience when listening to audio content and / or A / V content.

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